South Florida kicked off its Veterans Day observances Tuesday, a day ahead of the holiday, with a sports event in Miami and a vehicle giveaway in Miramar.
In Miami, more than 40 wounded warriors spent the day exercising with padel, a hybrid of pickleball, racquetball and badminton. Steven Harper, executive director of Military Adaptive Court Sports, said the group is using the sport as a form of rehabilitation for service members in partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Each participant went home with a new racket, according to Nalle Grinda, the group’s co-founder and chief of padel, who said 400 rackets were being donated.
In Miramar, Quohnos Mitchell, a disabled Marine Corps veteran, was surprised with the keys to a new car through Progressive’s annual Keys to Progress program. Mitchell spent eight months in a wheelchair after he was struck by a car and has had to relearn how to walk. Before the gift, he relied on public transportation and friends to get to VA appointments. Enrique Leyte-Vidal, a Progressive representative, said the program has given away 1,400 vehicles over 14 years.
Celebrations continue Wednesday, Veterans Day, with parades, barbecues and special tributes across South Florida.
